Panchamasali stir: Seer warns Congress will face consequences in next polls, calls CM Siddaramaiah 'heartless'

Hirebagewadi (Belagavi district): Calling Chief Minister Siddaramaiah heartless for using ‘force’ against agitating Panchamasalis, Basavajaya Mrityunjaya Swami of Kudalasangama Panchamasali Peeth said on Thursday that the ruling Congress would face consequences in the next election.

“You (CM Siddaramaiah) came to power with the blessings of Lingayats, but you behaved in a heartless manner. You used force on the people who voted you to power. You and your party will face the consequences in the next elections,” the seer said addressing the agitators here.

The members of the community staged a highway block near Hirebagewadi toll gate, condemning the lathicharge on protesters demanding 2A reservation for Panchamasali Lingayats in front of Suvarna Soudha on Tuesday.

“When a legislator from Panchamasali community appealed to the CM to stop using force on the protesters, Siddaramaiah told him ‘let them (police) beat the protesters. They are trying to scare us. We too have lathis... The lawmaker himself has revealed this to me,” the seer said.

The seer asked the ruling Congress to clarify their stance. “If you have made up your mind on not fulfilling our demand for 2A reservation, tell us directly, so that we will carve our own path,” he said.

The seer said, “The statewide agitation would continue till the government withdraws cases booked against the protesters and demand a public apology.”

Panchamasalis, joined by members of other Lingayat sub-castes, staged protests at several places across the state, condemning the lathicharge on the protesters in front of Suvarna Soudha on Tuesday.